From Aimee': Yesterday I was part of an event where we were able to display the Louisiana Heart Gallery to pastors around Louisiana. It is always such as emotional time for me. Up until the event I have probably looked at these children's faces 100 times. Most are my children's ages. Over and over again I fight back tears thinking I CANNOT imagine my children being without a Mom or Dad to hold them and hug them, encourage them, love on them, pray for them. These children do not have that. I look into their eyes and it breaks me. These days I especially find myself watching the time waiting for my children to come home so I can just hug them tight. At times I feel like I am not doing enough for these children because they are still there in a system that although protects them from harm and bad situations cannot possibly replace a family to call their own. There is a lot of work to do and these are not the only children. There are children in China, Africa, Russia, Thailand, Bulgaria, Peru, etc..... that deserve a family to call their own.
Yesterday I felt so deflated during this event. I know I was under attack from the enemy but I couldn't shake frustration and anger and failure thoughts. Then at the very end of the event while people were leaving I was standing at the Louisiana Heart Gallery display talking to a woman who was moved by this one child on the display. I love when God moves on the hearts of people as it relates to the fatherless. I love being a part of this but what came out of her mouth next I just was not prepared for: As she was filling out her name and contact information I shared with her how we had eight children and six were adopted one from here and five from Peru. As I was talking she stopped writing her information and looked at me and said "why in the world would you adopt children in another country when there are children here?" I wish I could say she said it with an air innocent wonder but she didn't. She said it as if to say "how dare you adopt outside of the USA when there are children here!" Her tone was strong and I am sure my face showed how I thought but God has called me to be a peacemaker and bridge builder not a pot stirrer. My flesh had lots I wanted to tell this woman but I ended up looking at her straight in the eye and said, "because God called my husband and I to adopt these children. These children are also created by God just like the children here in Louisiana. They too deserve a family to call their own." I then said "a child without a Mom or Dad is a child without a Mom or Dad no matter where they are." I then said, "you know we have a child with special needs who we adopted from Peru who is diagnosed as mildly mentally retarded and if she would have not gotten adopted there is a great possibility that she would have been sexually abused, used to sell things on the street late at night, the list could go on and on. But God chose her for us and I wouldn't have it any other way." I stopped and she just looked. Our conversation ended. I took down the Louisiana Heart Gallery with Mr. Richard and Paula, got in the car angry, frustrated, deflated! Got home so tired and teary eyed. I was emotionally spent.
Let me be very clear about how I feel: I am called to be salt and light. I am called to be a peacemaker and bridge builder. I am not called to be a pot stirrer and judgmental fool who reacts with harsh words when someone says something I definitely do not like to hear. Through the years God has worked on me ..... worked on my flesh, worked on my spirit. It has taken years to get to this spot. I have a long way to go but I definitely am not who I used to be thank You Lord.
With that said let me say ALL children without a Mom or Dad wherever they may be in this world deserve a family to call their own and I will continue to be a voice for all of them. And to you who agree but you run into a situation like this and someone says the same thing to you can I encourage you to chose your words carefully and be gentle with them because God may be using you to remove the blinders from their eyes and soften their hearts. We cannot do this with anger and harmful words because that person "offended" us.
For those being called to adopt in another country other than the USA but family or friends are questioning your place of choice to adopt be encouraged that everybody has an opinion but what is God calling you to do? You will know because You will have peace about the decision. Family and friends mean well. A lot of time there opinion for your situation is from a pure motive of love for you but they do not know the conversation between you and God and that is ok. Just smile, tell them thank you for caring but I must follow the call of God and walk where He is asking us to walk or adopt where He is asking us to adopt. Be gentle with your words towards family and friends and don't get offended. We are peacemakers and bridge builders.
I had a good night sleep. Today is a new day! The difficulties we faced yesterday are over. Today God needs us engaged and focused not offended and angry. We stay on course, feet planted firm and press on. There are many children without a family depending on it
Yesterday I felt so deflated during this event. I know I was under attack from the enemy but I couldn't shake frustration and anger and failure thoughts. Then at the very end of the event while people were leaving I was standing at the Louisiana Heart Gallery display talking to a woman who was moved by this one child on the display. I love when God moves on the hearts of people as it relates to the fatherless. I love being a part of this but what came out of her mouth next I just was not prepared for: As she was filling out her name and contact information I shared with her how we had eight children and six were adopted one from here and five from Peru. As I was talking she stopped writing her information and looked at me and said "why in the world would you adopt children in another country when there are children here?" I wish I could say she said it with an air innocent wonder but she didn't. She said it as if to say "how dare you adopt outside of the USA when there are children here!" Her tone was strong and I am sure my face showed how I thought but God has called me to be a peacemaker and bridge builder not a pot stirrer. My flesh had lots I wanted to tell this woman but I ended up looking at her straight in the eye and said, "because God called my husband and I to adopt these children. These children are also created by God just like the children here in Louisiana. They too deserve a family to call their own." I then said "a child without a Mom or Dad is a child without a Mom or Dad no matter where they are." I then said, "you know we have a child with special needs who we adopted from Peru who is diagnosed as mildly mentally retarded and if she would have not gotten adopted there is a great possibility that she would have been sexually abused, used to sell things on the street late at night, the list could go on and on. But God chose her for us and I wouldn't have it any other way." I stopped and she just looked. Our conversation ended. I took down the Louisiana Heart Gallery with Mr. Richard and Paula, got in the car angry, frustrated, deflated! Got home so tired and teary eyed. I was emotionally spent.
Let me be very clear about how I feel: I am called to be salt and light. I am called to be a peacemaker and bridge builder. I am not called to be a pot stirrer and judgmental fool who reacts with harsh words when someone says something I definitely do not like to hear. Through the years God has worked on me ..... worked on my flesh, worked on my spirit. It has taken years to get to this spot. I have a long way to go but I definitely am not who I used to be thank You Lord.
With that said let me say ALL children without a Mom or Dad wherever they may be in this world deserve a family to call their own and I will continue to be a voice for all of them. And to you who agree but you run into a situation like this and someone says the same thing to you can I encourage you to chose your words carefully and be gentle with them because God may be using you to remove the blinders from their eyes and soften their hearts. We cannot do this with anger and harmful words because that person "offended" us.
For those being called to adopt in another country other than the USA but family or friends are questioning your place of choice to adopt be encouraged that everybody has an opinion but what is God calling you to do? You will know because You will have peace about the decision. Family and friends mean well. A lot of time there opinion for your situation is from a pure motive of love for you but they do not know the conversation between you and God and that is ok. Just smile, tell them thank you for caring but I must follow the call of God and walk where He is asking us to walk or adopt where He is asking us to adopt. Be gentle with your words towards family and friends and don't get offended. We are peacemakers and bridge builders.
I had a good night sleep. Today is a new day! The difficulties we faced yesterday are over. Today God needs us engaged and focused not offended and angry. We stay on course, feet planted firm and press on. There are many children without a family depending on it
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